It was asserted by the AIRF that the Railwaymen are Industrial
Workers and are governed by the Industrial Disputes Act, Factories Act
and Hours of Employment Regulations etc.

It was stressed by the AIRF that, out of 7,000 railway stations,
over 6,000 are road side stations where staff are bereft of all civic
facilities like housing, electricity, drinking water, sanitation,
medical facilities etc., and the education of their children suffers.

Indian Railways run 19,000 trains daily and additional train services are being introduced without developing

infrastructure and adding manpower, rather manpower is being
reduced day-by-day. In spite of all impediments, there has been
tremendous improvement in carrying goods traffic and passenger services.

AIRF further stressed that, the Railwaymen are working
round-the-clock in all weathers and arduous conditions, even sacrificing
their lives to keep the lifeline of the nation(Indian Railways) in
operation. On the one hand it used to be said that we(the Railwaymen),
are the second line of defence, on the other, when the issue of Wage
Structure and Allowances comes, the Railwaymen always get raw-deal,
saying, they are “Common Categories”. Quoting examples of the Running
Staff, Technician, Technical Supervisor, Operating & Commercial
Staff, AIRF asked, where we are common? The VII CPC agreed that they
would definitely look into these aspects while deciding wages and
allowances of the Railwaymen.

It was impressed upon to the Seventh Central Pay Commission that
AIRF would lead broad categories/ departments’ representation to VII CPC
during oral evidence.

It was also stressed that the Seventh Central Pay Commission should
consider the matter of granting Interim Relief as well as merger of
Dearness Allowance with the Pay.

The Members of the Pay Commission, mainly the Chairman himself,
interacted with AIRF’s representatives. The Pay Commission gave patient
hearing and assured that they could understand the complexity and
gravity of the Railway Industry, devotion and dutifulness of the
Railwaymen and would try to administer justice to the Railwaymen by way
of their recommendations.

The issues of Fixation of Wages, allowances and the matters of
Anomalies of VI CPC, Scrapping of New Pension Scheme, Promotional
Policy, General Grade Structure along with the demands of Interim Relief
and Merger of Dearness Allowance with the Pay were raised by the Staff
Side, NC/JCM. Apart from AIRF representatives, in the delegation, Coms.
M. Raghavaiah, Guman Singh, S.N. Pathak, S.K. Vyas, Sri Kumar, K.K.N.
Kutty and B.C. Sharma were also present on the occasion.

The Chairman, VII CPC, on persistent demand of the Staff Side,
NC/JCM, suggested that the Staff Side can submit separate Memorandum on
Interim Relief and Merger of Dearness Allowance, so that VII CPC can
seek necessary advice from the Government, as to how to deal with these
issues since there has been no specific reference in the matter from the
Government to VII CPC on these subjects.

It was decided that detailed memorandum on behalf of Staff Side,
National Council(JCM) should be submitted by 30th June 2014, and all the
departments, like Railways and others should submit their memorandum by
15th July, 2014.

This is for your information and giving wide circulation amongst all sections of the Railwaymen.

I, on behalf of 13 lakh Railwaymen, welcome you and the Members of
the VII CPC, would like to submit the following as a preliminary step
towards our approach and expectations from the VII CPC.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF) was established in the year
1924, and the leadership of this federation was heralded by the eminent
personalities like Shri V.V. Giri, who was one of the founder members
of the AIRF and was the General Secretary of the AIRF for long 10 years
from 1927-37. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan was the President of this
federation from 1947-57. Last President of the AIRF was Shri Umraomal
Purohit, from 1980 to till his death in February 2014. He was also
Secretary, Staff Side, National Council(JCM) since 1977.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF) participated in the
Independent struggle. It also saved Railway Industry from economic
depression of 1930 and faced other challenging tasks at different times.

Railwaymen are the second line of defence, and during 1962 Chinese
aggression, 1965 Pakistan War and 1999 Kargil War etc., Railwaymen stood
firm in the duty post and carried out army and the necessary equipments
to war front.

During natural calamities, like floods, earthquake etc., the
Railwaymen transport necessary helps to the victims, and in far-flung
areas in the country for conducting smooth elections. The Railwaymen run
thousands of Special Trains, and during the 16th Lok Sabha elections,
Indian Railways run 5,000 Special Trains in addition to split coaches
for ferrying security personnel and election materials.

The Railways is a common man’s transport, cheaper than other modes
of transport as also eco-friendly. The Indian Railways is the symbol of
national integrity.

EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY SERVICES

The Railways generate resources, internally also to a substantial
quantity. The Railways is having 16 Railway Zones, 06 Production Units
and Metro Rail, Kolkata(a new Railway Zone).

INDIAN RAILWAYS

Comparative Statement of improvement in productivity of the Railwaymen is as under:-

2005-6

2012-13

Variation

Net Ton Kilometer (Million)

441762

641849

+ 45.29

Passenger Kilometer (Million)

615634

1098103

+ 78.37

Staff Strength (In Thousands)

1412.4

1287.3

(-) 8.86%

Traffic Unit for 1000 employees*, which is an indicator of improvement is as follows:-

2000-2001

2011-12

535

1408

*Traffic Unit represents Passenger Kilometer and NTKM

Indian Railways working is of belt system. It is not an
individual’s performance, but collective efforts of all sections of the
Railwaymen, which represents improvement in the performance.

SAFETY

Safety gets paramount importance in the working of the Indian Railways. Unfortunately, new trains are being

introduced as per the demands, but without increasing line
capacity, rolling stock and manpower. Rather manpower is decreasing
violating the provision of the Hours of Employment. A committee in
respect of Working Hours etc. of the Railwaymen was appointed by the
Ministry of Railways, which had submitted its report to the Railway
Board in August 2013, but unfortunately, no decision has yet been taken
on the report of the said committee despite repeated representations.
National average for training is 2% of the total expenditure, but the
Railways spent only 0.50%.

Railwaymen are the Industrial Workers and govern under the
Industrial Disputes Act and Hours of Employment & Regulations,
framed under the Railway Act and Factory Act.

There are more than 7,000 railway stations, of them over 6,000 are
road side stations. Large-number of stations are in the forest and
terrorist infested areas. Staff working at the roadside stations are
bereft of housing, potable water, sanitation, medical aid, and children
education is a far cry.

Railwaymen work round the clock, and they have to remain vigilant
all the 24 hours in 365 days. A committee was appointed on the Safety of
the Railways under the chairmanship of Dr. Anil Kakodkar. Para 2.3 of
the said report is cited below:-

Killed

Injured

Railwaymen

1,600

8,700

Passenger/Public

1,019

2,118

(Unmanned Level Crossing)

723

690

WAGES, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE AND OTHER ALLOWANCES

The wages of the Railwaymen are low in comparison to the workers of
the PSUs. This has been constantly agitating the minds of the
Railwaymen.

1st to 7th CPC appointed only after the series of agitations, submission of Charter of Demands or after the Strike Notice.

AIRF had to launch country-wide strike against anti-labour report
of the 2nd CPC in the year 1960 and against the report of the 3rd
CPC(20-day long 1974 strike).

LIVING WAGE was propagated by the 1st CPC as back
as 1946-47. It has been embodied in the Article 43 of the Constitution
of our country, wherein directive principles have been enshrined.
Unfortunately, the same is yet to be achieved after 66 years of the
Independence and 62 years of adoption of the Constitution.

The 4th CPC in para 7.32 of its report at page 85 had recommended
periodical revision/review of wages through bilateral negotiations.

Railwaymen need separate consideration in respect of wages, allowance and other benefits. This matter was

agitated before the VI CPC also, and the VI CPC in para 7.36.100 of its report had observed as follows:-

“Various Railway Federations have demanded a special dispensation
for Railway employees keeping in view the profitability of their
organization. The demand is not without substance especially as
employees have to be rewarded for efficient performance of the entire
organization that has yielded continuous profits without resorting to
any substantial increase in the passenger/freight fares in the recent
years. A separate dispensation in terms of pay scales and allowances is
not, however, possible, as long as the organization continues to be a
Ministry in the Central Government because it will then need to be
governed by the common pay scales and allowances for the entire Central
Government. In such a scenario, the optimal solution would be
corporatization of Indian Railways as a Public Sector Enterprise. This
would allow the Railways flexibility in determining its own compensation
package”.

The Staff Side, National Council(JCM) Standing Committee, had a
discussion with the Government on Terms of Reference of the VII CPC on
24.10.2013 and requested to have another round of discussions in the
matter, but unfortunately the government issued the said ToR
unilaterally, which was protested by the Staff Side, NC/JCM. A meeting
of the Standing Committee of NC/JCM was also held on 07.05.2014, wherein
the issue of Interim Relief and merger of Dearness Allowance were again
raised.

It may be mentioned here that, Interim Relief was recommended by the 3rd CPC, and the 4th CPC had recommended two Interim Relief.
Before appointment of the V CPC, discussions were held on different
dates in September 1993 with the Cabinet Secretary, when an Interim Relief of
Rs.100 p.m. to Group `C’ and `D’ employees was sanctioned prior to
appointment of V CPC and subsequently V CPC had recommended two Interim
Relief. Interim Relief requires to bridge the gap of erosion in the real
wage during interregnum period.

MERGER OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

25% Dearness Allowance was merged in the Pay after series of negotiation with the Cabinet Secretary in September 1993.

The V CPC in its report had also recommended merger of Dearness Allowance when it crosses 50%, and the same was done.

It is necessary to point out here that the inflation trend
prevailing during 01.01.1996 to 31.12.2005 and from 01.01.2006 to
01.01.2004 inflation was 74%, whereas from 01.01.2006 to 01.01.2011, it
was 51%, and further raised to 100% on 01.01.2014.

Eligibility for promotion : – It is necessary to
fix suitable standards for promotion from one grade to another,
including minimum length of service in the lower grade. As far as
possible, the minimum length of service in the lower grade prescribed as
a condition for promotion to the higher grade should not markedly be
different from that prescribed by other Departments for promotion to
similar grades involving the same nature of duties and responsibilities.

The qualifying service for promotion from one grade to another is
necessary so that there is no premature promotion or undue jump in pay
and also to ensure that the officer has sufficient opportunity to
demonstrate his competence/potential for holding the higher post. The
period of qualifying service varies from post to post depending upon the
scale of pay and the experience, required for manning the higher post.
Broadly, the following qualifying service for promotion from one grade
to another may be followed:

Enhancement of monetary ceiling for issue of sanction of medical claims – Confederation

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

1st Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi -110001

Website: www.confederationhq.blogspot.com

Email: confederationhq@gmaiI.com

Ref: CONFD/GENL/2014

Dated : 28-05-2014

To

The Secretary

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi

Sir,

Sub: Enhancement of monetary ceiling for issue of sanction of medical claims.

At present the monetary ceiling for sanctioning medical claims is
restricted to Rs.2 lakhs for Head of the Department. The Internal
finance division is delegated for the sanction of medical claims above
two lakhs to five lakhs. Now a days the medical treatment has become
too costly. The claims above two lakhs are increasing and accumulating
at Internal finance division of the various Departments/Ministries.

Hence, it is requested to enhance the monetary limit for sanction
of medical claims as per the prescribed list to five lakhs from the
present two lakhs to the Head of the Department.

As per the request of the JCM National Council Staff side, 7th
Central Pay Commission has granted extension of time upto 15.07.2014
(15th July 2014) for submission of memorandum by individual
organizations other than JCM staff side. The following is the revised
time schedule (Last date).

1. JCM National Council Staff side : 30.06.20142. All other Federations/Unions/Associations : 15.07.2014

JCM National Council Staff side will be submitting a common
memorandum before 30.06.2014 on the common demands of the Central
Government Employees. The Copy of the JCM Staff side memorandum will be
placed in the website.

All affiliated organizations of the Confederation are requested to
prepare their sectional memorandum well in advance and be ready to
submit it before 15.07.2014 to the 7th CPC. New Pay scales demanded by
the JCM Staff side will be available in the common memorandum of the JCM
Staff side.

Confederation National Secretariat meeting will be held on 31.05.2014
at ITEF Head Quarters (Rajouri Garden) at 2 PM as already notified to
finalise the common memorandum. (Please note the time change from 11 AM
to 2 PM). All National Secretariat members are requested to attend the
meeting.